Shoulder-hand Syndrome

Original Editor - Essam Ahmed

Top Contributors - Essam Ahmed  

Definition and Causes[edit | edit source]

Also known as Post-stroke complex regional pain syndrome or reflex sympathetic dystrophy of upper limb[1]. Shoulder-hand Syndrome (SHS) is a multifactorial disorder[2]characterized by edema and swelling of the hand, hyperalgesia, sever pain and loss of function in the shoulder joint with changes in the skin color and temperature[3][4].The cause is still unknown, but it may be due to one or multiple causes which include[2][5]

  1. Prolonged immobility.
  1. Repeated minor trauma from blood drawing and intravenous injections.
  2. Angio-spasm
  3. Perceptual deficit
  4. Central sympathetic dysregulation and neurogenic inflammatory reactions

Symptoms and Signs[edit | edit source]

A definite SHS diagnosis should include the following symptoms[5]:

Site Symptoms and Signs
Shoulder Loss of ROM; pain and tenderness elicited by these motions or in rest
Elbow Usually no symptoms
Wrist Considerable pain on extension; tenderness to deep palpation and dorsal oedema over carpal bones
Hand little pain or tenderness; oedema overlying metacarpals
Digits Considerable pain on flexion of metacarpal-phalangeal and interphalangeal joints; moderate oedema and loss of dorsal skin lines; changes in hair and nail growth; vasomotor and changes in temperatute, colour and hidrosis

Treatment[edit | edit source]

The Treatment is Multidisciplinary approach that include :

  • Medication[5][1]: NSAID, Oral Corticosteroid, Shoulder Steroid Injection.
  • Physical Therapy which includes:
  1. Mirror Therapy[5][1]
  2. Orthoses[4]
  3. Acupuncture[6][3]
  4. Passive and Active R.O.M.[5]
  5. Laser[7]
  6. T.E.N.S.[5]

Physical Therapy[edit | edit source]

  1. Mirror Therapy:

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Saha S, Sur M, Ray Chaudhuri G, Agarwal S. Effects of mirror therapy on oedema, pain and functional activities in patients with poststroke shoulder‐hand syndrome: A randomized controlled trial. Physiotherapy Research International. 2021;26(3).
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Kondo I, Hosokawa K, Soma M, Iwata M, Maltais D. Protocol to prevent shoulder-hand syndrome after stroke. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2001;82(11):1619-1623.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Liu S, Zhang C, Cai Y, Guo X, Zhang A, Xue C et al. Acupuncture for Post-stroke Shoulder-Hand Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in Neurology. 2019;10.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Hartwig M, Gelbrich G, Griewing B. Functional orthosis in shoulder joint subluxation after ischaemic brain stroke to avoid post-hemiplegic shoulder–hand syndrome: a randomized clinical trial. Clinical Rehabilitation. 2012;26(9):807-816.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 C. H Geurts, B. A. J. T. Visschers, A. Systematic review of aetiology and treatment of post-stroke hand oedema and shoulder-hand syndrome. Scandinavian Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine. 2000;32(1):4-10.
  6. ↑ Peng L, Zhang C, Zhou L, Zuo H, He X, Niu Y. Traditional manual acupuncture combined with rehabilitation therapy for shoulder hand syndrome after stroke within the Chinese healthcare system: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Rehabilitation. 2017;32(4):429-439.
  7. ↑ Karabegović A, Kapidžić-Duraković S, Ljuca F. Laser Therapy of Painful Shoulder and Shoulder-Hand Syndrome in Treatment of Patients after the Stroke. Bosnian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences. 2009;9(1):59-65.
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